Canadian Club presents spring lineup

On March 21, Brian Porter of Brockville will again delight the Canadian Club audience with his presentation of the Brockville Infantry.

An amazing actor, this is Porter’s third time presenting to the Canadian Club. He has written a book on the Brockville Infantry Company, and will perform in full period costume.

Porter is replacing the previously booked speaker, Dave Phillips, who had to withdraw his speaking engagement.

The doors for the March 21 evening will open by 6:30 p.m. at the Legion in Morrisburg, and the Canadian Club executive will great members and visitors with a reception of juice, crackers and cheese. As well, the Legion bar will be open.

Canadian Club, president Dave Black will begin the formalities at 7 p.m. A full pork dinner will be followed by guest speaker, Brian Porter.

Charlotte Grey, one of Canada’s best known authors will speak to the club on April 18. Her topic of “Gold Diggers Striking it Rich in the Klondike” is the eighth and most recent of her best sellers. A turkey dinner will precede her presentation.

The final meeting for the Canadian Club season will be on May 16, and will bring Adrian Harwood as guest speaker.

Adrian is news anchor at CBC TV, Ottawa. He has a special interest in volunteers and the work they do in society.

This will follow a prime rib dinner – a perfect night out – all for $20.

The Canadian Club averages just over 100 members/visitors at each meeting. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Visitors can attend, simply by reserving a ticket.

Prior to each dinner, a member sells tickets on a Canadian Flag. The proceeds (approximately $150 ) go to a different local charity from each meeting.

Tickets are $20 and are available by reservation by calling Clara at 613-774-2407 or 613-447-8167 (cell).

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“We’ve heard that there are many here interested in the service,” said Nanda Wubs of Wubs Transit in Winchester.

Wubs was discussing her company’s plans for a shuttle bus service to Ottawa from Morrisburg. “We have about 15 people committed. We’re looking for 30 to 35 people before we move ahead with that,” she informed South Dundas council at the December 6th meeting.

As reported in August, Wubs Transit already has a route, which includes multiple stops in both Chesterville, Winchester and Ottawa.

They offer monthly passes, single trip tickets, passes for one-way trips, and a book of 10 one-way tickets. The monthly pass is actually an OC Transpo pass that includes the Wubs Transit Daily Line Run. A monthly pass for Chesterville is $258. A pass for Morrisburg would be comparable.

For more information, phone the Wubs Transit office at 613-774-6618 or visit their website at www.wubs.ca.

Following Wubs presentation, Mayor Steven Byvelds said, “I think this is a service we will hopefully get off and running. I wish you success in that venture.”

MORRISBURG – “1976. This is the year that Gordie Roberts learned the true meaning of Christmas.”

With those words, Uncle Charlie invites Playhouse audiences to travel back to a time when family Christmas specials, usually featuring performers like Andy Williams, The Osmonds and Perry Como were a staple and welcome part of the television networks’ holiday fare. The Gordie Roberts’ Christmas Special is just such a show, a production that Gordie and his troupe have been performing every December, in pretty much the same fashion, for the last 15 years.

This year, 1976, however, the world is going to change. And if Gordie can’t deal with those changes, Christmas (and the networks) are going to leave him behind.

Playwright and composer Jesse Collins’ Lights, Camera…Christmas! is a nostalgic, music and dance filled homage to those grand old days of television, and to the performers who were once such a familiar part of holiday celebrations in millions of homes.

As this final production of the Upper Canada Playhouse 2014 season takes to the stage, audiences will find themselves swept into the lives of some very special characters. Throughout that journey, there is plenty of laughter, unforeseen twists and turns in the story, exuberant musical numbers, and, perhaps, one or two little tears to wipe away.

Director Collins (assisted by an outstanding crew) has assembled a terrific cast of nine for his production. They are all accomplished singers and dancers (something they demonstrate delightfully throughout the play). Liz Gilroy is the choreographer for the show, with Meredith Zwicker handling the music and arrangements. From soft shoe to rock and roll, from tap to disco, the music and dancing in Lights, Camera…Christmas! are dynamite.

More than this, Christmas is a play with characters that audiences will come to care about. Collins paints them in such a memorable fashion.

Character Gordie (Derek Marshall) is a crooner and a traditionalist. He’s done his Christmas special a certain way for 15 years, and he means to keep on doing things his way. Unfortunately, his finances and television contracts are in a mess. Corporate sponsors are pressuring him hourly. Even his faithful cast is getting restive. And then there is his failure to listen to, sometimes to even notice, his long time girlfriend, Marilyn (Liz Gilroy), who has loved and supported him for years. Despite his loud protestation that “There’s a lot more to Gordie Roberts than just a hit song!” he’s in trouble.

There is nervous Morty (Duff MacDonald) who keeps proclaiming “I was just supposed to be the warm up act, not the manager.” And Rick (Geoffrey Tyler), who is desperate for a chance to finally showcase his dance and vocal skills. There’s Rhonda (Meredith Zwicker) who has embraced the whole disco scene and dancer Denise (Miranda MacDonald), a woman of few words but big smiles. Who will forget Uncle Charlie (Rod Campbell) whose understanding heart makes a difference in the lives of everyone? And there is Zach Council, whose wide-eyed Vince brings the house down with his puppets, magic and reindeer suit. Even Butch, the corporate hatchet man, played with Scrooge like nastiness by Brian Young, while delivering lines like “I don’t like you. I don’t like this show. And I’ll can this hunk of junk! There’s a new sheriff in town!” is a memorable villain.

Will the Gordie Roberts Christmas special survive? Will jive talk, disco Santa and the evil Fairbanks 2000 replace the traditions of Christmas? Will the members of Gordie’s troupe rediscover the joys of Christmas in time? Will this be the year that Gordie Roberts really does learn the true meaning of Christmas?

Lights, Camera…Christmas! is a magical journey of song, dance and story. Go and warm your heart.

Lights, Camera…Christmas! runs at Upper Canada Playhouse until December 14. Contact the theatre at 1-613-543-3713 for information and tickets.